Star baseball columnist Richard Griffin offers up his predictions as Major League Baseball gets set to open a new season.

AL EAST

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Manager John Gibbons’ philosophy is to stay out of the way. No team in the American League has transformed itself as much as the Jays.

The rotation is savvy, veteran and capable of posting big numbers, led by the most interesting man in the world, R.A. Dickey. Toronto’s lineup combines equal parts lightning and thunder.

Stay healthy, my friends.

TAMPA BAY RAYS (wild card)

The Rays can rely on the genius of their manager, Joe Maddon, and the never-ending stream of arms from the farm system. After dealing James Shields, the Rays are counting on the development of young starters Matt Moore and Alex Cobb and a healthy Evan Longoria.

They will be there.

BOSTON RED SOX

Many Toronto fans have marked the first home weekend of the regular season on their calendar as a welcome-back event for ex-manager John Farrell. The Red Sox rotation needs to rebound while some of their questionable off-season acquisitions need to step up and have their best seasons.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

The stats guys are having a field day predicting the imminent demise of the O’s, with the belief being the bullpen will have trouble repeating last year’s magic. But the bats are better, and manager Buck Showalter, along with Tampa’s Maddon, are the two best leaders in the division.

NEW YORK YANKEES

This team bludgeoned opponents last season when 10 players had 14 or more home runs. But this lineup is down more than 170 home runs from a year ago because of trades, free agency or injuries. The Yankees are proving that it’s easier to spend money than it is to cut payroll. There won’t be a lot of tears if the Bronx Bombers finish last.

AL CENTRAL

DETROIT TIGERS

Other than the closer and questionable infield defence, the Tigers may have the best roster in the AL. The return of Victor Martinez gives them another leader with a big bat, while starter Justin Verlander and third baseman Miguel Cabrera are the previous two AL MVPs.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

Everyone has talked for years about the Royals being a dark horse candidate because of their farm system. Well, this winter they used some of that inventory to bring in veteran leadership. The rotation that now includes Shields and Ervin Santana gives them credibility, and there’s not a more talented bullpen in the league.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

The Chisox looked good at times last year, but the talent pool in the rest of this division has improved. For manager Robin Ventura, it may be a sophomore-jinx-type season, unless Jake Peavy, John Danks and Gavin Floyd can remain healthy. Chris Sale is a legitimate stud.

CLEVELAND INDIANS

The Tribe has made a number of short-term moves trying to be this year’s Orioles. They have signed a legit leadoff man in Michael Bourn and added a clubhouse influence in Nick Swisher. The rotation has some good developing young stars, but until they arrive, starting pitching looks shaky.

MINNESOTA TWINS

Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau can’t do it by themselves, and fans in the Twin Cities are getting restless after paying for a new ballpark and witnessing the declining fortunes of their team. Guelph’s own Scott Diamond is pencilled in as the ace of a rotation that could be the Twins’ biggest weakness.

AL WEST

OAKLAND A’S

Some consider it dangerous to be counting on so many first- and second-year starters, but this is an exciting group that showed pressure didn’t bother them down the stretch last season. Left fielder Yoenis Cespedes could be a monster impact player and right fielder Josh Reddick is dangerous.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS (wild card)

It’s hard to think of a better trio of hitters in one lineup than Josh Hamilton, Mike Trout and Albert Pujols. But the Achilles’ heel may be the bottom three in the rotation. It says here that underrated left-hander Jason Vargas will have more impact than either Joe Blanton or Tommy Hanson.

TEXAS RANGERS

World Series reps two years in a row, then wild-card losers, their post-season streak may come to an end. They lost Josh Hamilton, Mike Napoli and Michael Young. And with Nelson Cruz in the unwanted spotlight of the Miami anti-aging clinic controversy, this organization has lost some lustre. Rangers CEO Nolan Ryan is not happy.

SEATTLE MARINERS

The M’s offence has shown signs of potency this spring and right fielder Michael Saunders is coming off a breakout WBC with Canada. Right-hander Felix Hernandez is the one constant in the rotation, while another Canadian, Jason Bay, will be given a chance to revive his career.

HOUSTON ASTROS

Their reward was a transfer from the horrible NL Central to the powerful AL West. The Astros are about even money to lose 100 games, and Houston’s presence as the fifth team in the division virtually assures that one of the wild cards will emerge from the West. Right-hander Bud Norris, at $3 million (U.S.) is the highest-paid player.

NL EAST

ATLANTA BRAVES

At some point this season, either B.J. or Justin will likely become the second Upton in 2013 to make Sports Illustrated’s cover. Along with right fielder Jason Heyward, the Braves’ outfield is the most exciting in baseball. A key will be the health of catcher Brian McCann and the continuing excellence of Tim Hudson and Kris Medlen.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

(wild card)

The Nats are the trendy favourites in baseball this year, and why not? They’ve added Dan Haren to an already talented rotation, and with Denard Span patrolling centre, the very special Bryce Harper is at liberty to patrol left. The Nats/Expos have never been to a World Series.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

The Phils’ window of opportunity may have slammed shut in the uber-tough NL East. The rotation is still formidable, topped as it is by Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee. But adding third baseman Michael Young and centre fielder Ben Revere may not be enough.

NEW YORK METS

The Mets will host the All-Star Game this summer, and that could very well be the highlight of their season. GM Sandy Alderson was able to convince third baseman David Wright to hang around with a long-term deal, but trading Dickey to the Jays leaves the Mets with a below-average starting rotation in an above-average division.

MIAMI MARLINS

This franchise has seen better days, and fans aren’t happy. By hiring Mike Redmond to manage, the Marlins look to rebuild with some of the talent obtained from the Jays. Powerful Giancarlo Stanton wasn’t left with much of a supporting cast. However, the path is open to stardom for shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria.

NL CENTRAL

CINCINNATI REDS

After toying with the idea of making fireballing lefty Aroldis Chapman a starter, the Reds have announced he will return to the closer role he filled so capably last season. Right-hander Jonathan Broxton will be the set-up man. Shin-Soo Choo joins the top of the order, which also includes second baseman Brandon Phillips and first baseman Joey Votto. But can he play centre field? Scott Rolen has retired — sort of.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

The Bucs have had fast starts two years in a row before walking the plank after the all-star break. One of these seasons they will finish strong and have a winning record for the first time since Barry Bonds headed west. Catcher Russell Martin brings veteran savvy behind the plate and Andrew McCutchen is a star.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Some great young arms are ready to go from a terrific farm system, but will the offence be as powerful the second season post-Albert? Shortstop Rafael Furcal and right-hander Chris Carpenter are out indefinitely, while right fielder Carlos Beltran had something to prove last year and did. Manager Mike Matheny is in his second year.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

The Brew Crew quietly has a chance to rebound after an off-season a year ago, but the rotation is unproven beyond right-hander Yovani Gallardo. Right-hander John Axford, of Simcoe, Ont., walked more batters and blew more saves than in his breakout 2011 season and needs to regain his form. Left fielder Ryan Braun and third baseman Aramis Ramirez are solid 3-4 hitters.

Maybe the Cubs can have T-shirts printed up. But for Cubs fans, it’s not soon enough. Every year you think they’ll find a new home for left fielder Alfonso Soriano and every year he’s back to disappoint.

NL WEST

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

The World Series champs must be ranked No. 1 until further notice.

They have the mystique. And catcher Buster Posey, when healthy, has led them to two World Series titles. If Barry Zito and Tim Lincecum continue to rebound, the rotation is formidable, and the clubhouse has solid leaders.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS(wild card)

The Dodgers are the National League equivalent of the Jays in terms of marquee upgrades, but something seems to happen whenever they are expected to win. They took on some Red Sox payroll and, with it, some headaches. The addition of Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu to Clayton Kershaw and Josh Beckett makes them scary.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Even though the trade looks bad for the Jays now, Aaron Hill would never have rebounded if he had stayed in Toronto. The Snakes need a rebound season from left fielder Jason Kubel and more of the same from first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. It’s nice to see right-hander Brandon McCarthy healthy again after taking a line drive in the head on Sept. 5 of last season.

COLORADO ROCKIES

The Rockies have been down for a few years now, and that trend is likely to continue. It’s the final tour for first baseman Todd Helton, who will be in a reserve role. If shortstop Troy Tulowitzki can stay healthy, he will take the offensive load off of left fielder Carlos Gonzalez, right fielder Michael Cuddyer and centre fielder Dexter Fowler.

SAN DIEGO PADRES

The Padres could be much improved, but it still won’t get them above .500 with their young talent and injury woes. Can breakout third baseman Chase Headley continue his upward curve? Can first baseman Yonder Alonso take the next step? And what about catcher Yasmani Grandal when he returns from his 50-game suspension?

LCS Predictions

NL:Braves over Giants

AL:Blue Jays over A’s

World Series Prediction

Braves over Jays

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